My research for this conversion continues. For all of you who read my many, many posts on this conversion and still answer, I thank you.

Although I have toyed with the idea of making a "perfect" replica (probably type R) I just don't think it's necessary. I mean, if I were in Japan and got a v6 from the factory, what would I do? Change it, of course!

If I purchase an entire v6 wreck from Japan Kingpin tells me it'll be about $10,000. Although I'd like to pay less, I'll pay what I have to to get where I want eventually. It just might take longer.

So, as the title states, would it be better just to buy the whole thing, or go looking for the parts I need? With an entire car I know I have everything, but I end up buying a whole lot that I don't need. If I buy parts I can just get what I want, but they'll probably be more expensive.

As far as I can tell (and I've never done a conversion before) these are the parts I need:

v6 Engine (although I'm considering a v7)
ECU
RA tranny/shift assembly
engine/tranny/pitch mounts
cross member
drive shaft (Mine's an auto)
axels?
rear diff.
4 brakes/rotors/brakelines
clutch assembly
swaybars
endlinks?
lateral links?
monkey links?
struts
tophats
springs
tower braces
carbon fiber or aluminum hood
exhaust (although I have a TXS catless TBE that I think will fit)
fuel pump (I have a spare warlbro that I never put in the WRX)
seats
gauge cluster
steering wheel

And some things that would be nice but not neccesary:
bumper lips
side skirts
v5/6 wing
boost/egt/oil temp gauges
engine management
STi pedal covers
clear corners
v5/6 tail lights
v6 grill(e)

Please add your opinion, and any other stuff I forgot.

Id buy the car. I spent almost a grand in miscellaneous parts that just needed to be replaced. Keep in mind I have a WRX and did a ver 7 swap, so hypothetically anythign not included with the swap I could use the WRX counterpart... but that was not the case. Buy the car, and you know whatever piece you need will be on it. It sure would be a bitch to find a ver 5-6 specific part (power steering lines? I dunno, just a bad example) by itself.

Live with stock for a year, and then mod it. That's what I'm doing. Although I see where you are coming from, damn vf30 runs out of puff at 6500.

Why would you try to get parts when you could get the whole car?? I dont understand. :confused:

$10k for that car is too much. STi V7s are going for $9-14k That includes the brembos, rear end with brembos, R180 diff, 6spd, engine, and a whole misc of other stuff!

Getting a whole car is 10x better than parts, regardless.

keith

Why would you try to get parts when you could get the whole car?? I dont understand. :confused:

Not a whole usable car--a whole wrecked/cut in half car. It would still be for parts.

moss--where are you seeing v7s for 9k?

Not a whole usable car--a whole wrecked/cut in half car. It would still be for parts.

HEHE ya i know, thats what I got to do my swap. 10k isnt a bad price but I am willing to say that you WILL NOT find one.

Why not? :confused:

moss--where are you seeing v7s for 9k?
It's around, you have to search to find them. I was offered one for that price but had to turn it down because I couldnt afford it. For $9k I'm not saying you get the full shell as well, just the useable parts.

Also, GC body STis are not as easy to find as before, and if found they'll probably have high miles.

Keith

will the v7 suspension work on the GC? I thought that it wouldn't because the v7 is a stiffer, heavier car.

Well, useable parts included items to sell to recoup some money. the V7 suspension wont work too well with the GC.

keith

How do you get through SMOG with V7? Is it not a OBD 2?
Randy

I'm pretty sure it passes OBD2